Marcel Gotlib was a French comic artist, writer, and publisher, widely recognized as a seminal figure in French-language comics, especially for introducing a more adult tone and humor to the medium. Born Marcel Mordekhaï Gottlieb in Paris in 1934 to Jewish-Hungarian-Romanian parents, he emerged as an influential humorist known for his energetic graphic style combined with madcap comedy and cultural references.

Gotlib gained early fame with characters like the melancholic dog Gai-Luron and collaborative works such as the educational parody "Les Dingodossiers" with René Goscinny. He later created the solo series "La Rubrique-à-Brac," featuring a nameless ladybug as a recurring cameo. In the 1970s, Gotlib co-founded two important adult comic magazines, L'Écho des Savanes and Fluide Glacial, which allowed for more taboo-breaking and risqué comics. Among his notable mature works are "Hamster Jovial," "Pervers Pépère," and the political satire "Superdupont" co-created with Jacques Lob.

His work often carried social and autobiographical elements, including references to his Jewish heritage and childhood experiences during WWII. Gotlib's humor combined caricature, satire, and absurdity, influencing a generation of cartoonists. He received major awards such as the Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême in 1991. He passed away in 2016